Chapter 210: Seed of War Awakens

Chapter 210: Seed of War Awakens

Or pulsating. The Seed of War craved for the seed within the construct’s chest. But to Astrid, the plant seed was dead. Astrid had destroyed it, so much so that there wasn’t even a trace amount of energy left within.

But to the seed in her storage, it didn’t matter.

Bewildered at the sentient-like behaviour her heirloom exuded, Astrid plucked it out of her storage. It lurched forward, but Astrid was faster. Halting it in the air with her mind, it was clear the strange item she had received back within the Sinwen’s Armoury didn’t have a mind of its own.

No, it was like a beast. It had a desire, and that’s what fueled it. It had awakened once it received a whiff of another seed.

Luckily, Astrid had no qualms with letting the Seed of War experiment.

Curiosity got the best of her. What was the worst that could happen? She let the mental grasp go, and like a high powered magnet attracted to metal, the seed slammed against the jungle pip.

All Astrid could hear was the crackling of static electricity. And then, the kernel belonging to the construct dimmed in colour. Even more than when its energy had dissipated. From a vibrant wood, to a hollow grey. From a grey, to a shadowed black. Then, with a crack, the seed belonging to the giant machine crumbled into dust.

A System message followed.

Your bound - Seed of War - has consumed another seed.

| It is now activated.

| The multiverse stirs.

“Well shit, that can’t be good.” Astrid nervously chuckled as her seed was undergoing a great change.

After devouring the jungle seed kept within the construct’s chest, the Seed of War was suspended in the air.

Astrid attempted to call it over to her, to move it, but it refused to listen. All one-thousands points of Intelligence acted like they were only for display as no amount of mental strain brought the black bead to her.

Worse, a dreadful energy was emitting from its core. It reminded her of the time when she had detected Darcy’s space magic. Only this was a number of magnitude worse. The pressure radiating from the seed caused Astrid to take a few steps back in anticipation.

Of course, she anticipated the worst.

Not only that, Astrid sent an eyeball floating out of the room, and far down the tunnel to the range where Blinking Reposition still worked. If space collapsed, then she would be ready for it.

She just hoped that it was far enough.

The room swirled as the seed kicked up the dust and sand within the room. Astrid had to form a barrier as she focused on her family heirloom. Then, a piercing light shone. Like an overcharged lighthouse battling a storm, Astrid was forced to close her eyes.

Even with them shut, Astrid was still blinded by the sudden light. But when she opened them again, the seed had vanished.

The dust fell back to the floor, and the atmosphere within the room turned to normal. The intense space magic that was forming was severed. Or it moved somewhere else.

Astrid didn’t know which was worse.

She stood still for a moment. Reeling in surprise, or shock. It wasn’t until two minutes or so had passed when she clicked her tongue.

Throwing caution to the wind, Astrid trusted in her safety measures, and picked up the blade. A pulse of pure mana surged through her body, but it seemed to only be an ancient remnant. In a blink of an eye, the feeling dispersed, and Astrid found herself gazing at the dagger.

It didn’t have a sheath. Instead, the same scribbles she had seen on the walls were inscribed onto the white metal of the blade. The handle was made of gold, and further down to the pommel, it was furnished with a blood red jewel.

Looking closer, the gem pulsated from within. It was rhythmic. Alive. Astrid held out the blade as far as her arms could hold it. Which with her little arms, wasn’t very far.

Inside, was a heart. A real, beating heart.

And with it, mission success.

But it wasn’t a System notification.

The Eye-Queen appeared in all her glory just behind the golden chest. Her figure was so large, she had to scrunch up her body so that she could fit within the small chamber.

“My other half, you have completed the trial!”

Yes! Astrid thought in excitement.

“Partly!” The Eye-Queen said with a devilish smile

No! Astrid cried from within.

“This was just the first part of the second trial. Now that you have succeeded with the first part–” The Eye-Queen leaned in, hand to mouth as her voice turned into a shouting whisper. “Well, the little jungle seed was the actual mission, not that little stupid blade in your hand. But now that you have succeeded, it is now time for the fun part!”

“Then why couldn’t you just state my mission was to obtain the seed?” Astrid shouted in exasperation at the lumbering barely humanoid figure.

Of course, the supernatural witch ignored her woes entirely.

“Quickly, go back to the surface. The people of this jungle need your help. Oh, and don’t forget the little blade. You will need it! Go forth, my minion!”

The Eye-Queen broke out into an evil laughter. The air around her turned dark, abyss-like clouds formed as they crackled with thundering booms.

Rain spat, clearly real as it splattered against Astrid’s face.

Turning, Astrid sprinted away from the crazed figure.

What was her problem? She’s insane. That was the only word Astrid could possibly describe her as she returned back to the surface.

What she saw, caused her mind to turn into mush. Hovering in the air with her jaw hanging open, she gazed into the horizon as an army blotted the skies.

They were all filing out of an enormous chasm torn from the sky. Like a portal, an army of beings that she couldn’t recognize descended toward the jungle.

It was war, and it was all because of Astrid.

Again...